Ouachita Stories

Gathering for Ouachita Baptist University’s annual Faculty/Staff Banquet, the university recently honored 35 faculty and staff members who have served a combined total of 685 years at Ouachita. Among the longtime faculty and staff members honored, Dr. Ray Granade and Dr. Joe Jeffers were recognized for 45 years of service each.

“Congratulations to our 35 faculty and staff members who were honored for major service milestones,” said Ouachita President Ben Sells. “Ouachita primarily is a people called by God and enabled by God to foster in our students a love of God and a love of learning. Most of what gets done for the Lord at Ouachita is accomplished through our dedicated faculty and staff.

“Thanks especially to Dr. Ray Granade and Dr. Joe Jeffers who each have served at Ouachita for 45 years,” Dr. Sells added. “Their outstanding service to Ouachita will continue to impact our students and alumni for many years to come.”

Dr. Granade serves as director of library services and professor of history. He holds degrees from Samford University, Florida State University and Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Jeffers is the Charles S. and Elma Grey Goodwin Holt Professor of Chemistry and Pre-Medical Studies in the Patterson School of Natural Sciences. A 1966 Ouachita graduate, Dr. Jeffers holds his Ph.D. from Purdue University.

“It’s been a blessing to teach and work alongside people who believe in serving God with their minds and in helping others develop their facility in that endeavor,” Dr. Granade reflected. “I’ve enjoyed this time in a place where people matter more than buildings, where relationships with colleagues and with students demonstrate the best that this world has to offer. An experience in a setting where everyone recognizes that we’re all learners, whatever our different store of facts, is always invigorating beyond measure.

“Each morning I think, ‘I get to go to work today!’” he added. “I can conceive of no other undertaking for which I would have that same joy and anticipation.”

Emphasizing that “Ouachita is home to me,” Dr. Jeffers said, “Add four years as a student and 45 as a faculty member and it has defined my life.

“I love teaching. There is nothing better than seeing the light bulbs go off as students grasp a concept,” he noted. “Faculty camaraderie at Ouachita is second to none. My colleagues are fun to be with.”

In addition to Dr. Granade and Dr. Jeffers, 33 other faculty and staff members were recognized for service milestones, including:

40 Years of Service – Dr. Hal Bass, professor emeritus of political science, Sutton School of Social Sciences.

35 Years of Service – Jim Rothwell, assistant dean of the Hickingbotham School of Business and assistant professor of accounting.

30 Years of Service – Dr. Randall Wight, dean of the Sutton School of Social Sciences.

25 Years of Service – Harrell Beckwith, laboratory assistance, Patterson School of Natural Sciences; Dr. Terry Carter, associate dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies and W.O. Vaught Professor of Christian Ministries; Teresa Jones, support staff, TRIO programs; Carol Morgan, associate professor of communication disorders, Patterson School of Natural Sciences; Dr. Jeff Root, dean of the School of Humanities and interim dean of the Huckabee School of Education.

20 Years of Service – Darin Buscher, assistant professor of mathematics, Patterson School of Natural Sciences; Jacque Cash, Post Office support staff; Stacy Freeman, associate professor of dietetics, Patterson School of Natural Sciences; Dr. Patrick Houlihan, professor of music, School of Fine Arts; Dr. Wendy Richter, professor and archivist, Riley-Hickingbotham Library; Anping Wu, professor and catalog librarian, Riley-Hickingbotham Library.

15 Years of Service – Dr. Lei Cai, professor of music, School of Fine Arts; Karen Clark, facilities management; Dr. John Cox, associate professor of marketing and holder of the Harvey Jones Chair of Marketing; Hickingbotham School of Business; Daren Crow, facilities management; Del Hancock, facilities management; Dr. Tim Hayes, E.A. Provine Professor of Chemistry, Patterson School of Natural Sciences; Dr. Rob Hewell, professor of music and director of the worship studies program, School of Fine Arts; Julia Jones, instructor of Spanish, School of Humanities; Dr. Marvin Pate, Elma Cobb Professor of Christian Theology, Pruet School of Christian Studies; Dr. Barbara Pemberton, professor of Christian missions, Pruet School of Christian Studies; Marsha Whalen, administrative assistant, School of Humanities.

10 Years of Service – Gail Hennagin, archival assistant, Riley-Hickingbotham Library; Dr. Marshall Horton, Regions Bank Professor of Economics and Finance, Hickingbotham School of Business; Servanda Jacinto-Lopez, facilities management; Culley Majors; facilities management; Dr. Kevin “Casey” Motl, associate professor of history and holder of the R. Voyt Hill Chair of History, Sutton School of Social Sciences; Coleman Rogers, facilities management; Brett Shockley, assistant football coach; James Taylor, Campus Ministries director.

 

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications